There are 165 artist profiles on the blog as of August 2018, and many professors (full-time and part-time) have been featured. Today I highlight 37 artists who teach at 26 different colleges and universities. Check out each profile to learn more about their work in higher education as well as how artists balance multiple jobs, family, and running a dance company. (Some dancers listed here have since moved onto other colleges/universities or positions as deans and chairs, but today we are leaving each post with its original content.)

Also check out Nia Love's artist profile and her take on higher ed gigs. Click here.

08/14/2018

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity - with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times - we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work - or you decide to write in a personal journal - please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

Week 33: Artistic Thinking and Strategies

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for:

The transferable skills I bring into my everyday life, which I have learned and gained through my artistic practice. These 21st century skills are about collaboration, adaptability, trial and error, divergent thinking, multiple modalities, learning from failure, and experimentation. Presence. Visionary thinking.

08/07/2018

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity - with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times - we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work - or you decide to write in a personal journal - please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

Week 32: Community

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for:

Community. This circle of support, friendship, collegiality, and mentorship. Together, we boost each other up. We support dreams, ideas, projects, and shows. We are helping hands. We are listeners. We are donors. We are believers in the artwork.

We offer deep gratitude for community and all that we can give, receive, and support together.

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity - with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times - we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work - or you decide to write in a personal journal - please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

Week 31: The Gift of Disappointment

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for:

Disappointment. Not getting a grant. A failed project. A project that never got off of the ground. An interview but no job offer.

Disappointment actually is the bearer of many gifts - such as new ideas and new paths. Plus grit, resilience, strength, growth, perspective, humbleness, and determination.

Looking back at the 165 artist profiles and monthly features from the past 6 years, I have selected 25 blog posts to use within a college Composition Course. The wide range of viewpoints and career paths can offer a window into working as a choreographer in the United States right now. Students can take away - and immediately experiment with - questions and suggestions from each choreographer. Use one blog post a week as a discussion starter, enlivening a Composition Course with real world applications and considerations about dancemaking.

You can share the links below, or print out each post to include in a course reader. Each post takes 5 minutes to read.

07/23/2018

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity - with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times - we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work - or you decide to write in a personal journal - please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

Week 30: Mentoring

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for:

The two-way opportunity of mentoring relationships. To mentor and to be mentored. Conversation, support, questioning, challenging, and caring. Finding a mentor is a golden opportunity as an artist for support, help, kindness, and guidance. Thank you.

When the time and opportunity arises, becoming a mentor is a magical time. To give back and to share. Support. Kindness. Conversation.

Right now is a perfect moment to reflect on the mentors in my life, past and present. Gratitude.

07/22/2018

Sticky Majesty (2016) by Donna Uchizono. Photo: Scott Shaw.

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

Looking back at the 165 artist profiles and monthly features from the past 6 years, I have selected 36 blog posts to use within a college Senior Seminar Course. These posts offer graduating seniors a window into work happening around the United States and the many paths dancers take towards performing, building a company, choreographing, and teaching.

You can share the links below, or print out the posts to place in a reader. Each post takes 5 minutes or less to read.

I also highly encourage you to use A Life in Dance as required reading. Author Rebecca Stenn shares more about the book here. (And, I also offer some ideas for reading assignments here.)

07/18/2018

Do you feel the dichotomy? Many artists come from an upbringing of extensive support and opportunity - with training, classes, private lessons, workshops, mentors, supplies, and equipment. Many go onto colleges, conservatories, and masters programs. Yet, as artists in the U.S. today, many of us live with modest incomes to support our families and to keep making our work. Many times - we can end up feeling bitter, resentful, and negative.

Would a weekly gratitude practice inspire and promote personal change, hope, and contentment?

Whether you consider each weekly idea while on the subway commuting to work - or you decide to write in a personal journal - please join us on this journey in 2018. The 52 ideas were brainstormed and then placed in a random order. Thank you to colleagues Valerie Gutwirth, Juliana Monin, and Brian Smith for help launching this project.

Each week, one idea/intention/consideration will be shared.

Week 29: Second Chances

Today and this week, I offer gratitude for:

Those moments when I get another opportunity. Second chances. Second chances on a grant, job position, or collaboration. Another chance to improve upon the first time - producing, touring, timelines, grant writing, or a board retreat. A critic coming back to see a different show. Getting to present my work more than its first run.

I am grateful for the believe beyond that first moment and first attempt. I am grateful for potential and opportunity.

07/14/2018

Throughout 2018, we will highlight one state per week....its arts council, dance education organization, festivals, artist residencies, dance companies, and more. We will link to previous posts of artists based in the state, masters programs, and city guides.

This ambitious feature hopes to highlight the abundance of arts in the United States as well as to challenge us to look at areas of the country seeking more arts and arts education.

07/12/2018

"Emi, Amy and Mimi, the Celebrated Love Partners, and Their Bicycle Emi Nomo" - created and performed by Amy Chavasse, Sarah Konner and Austin Selden. Photo: Sam Pavarenti

The State by State Project, through Life as a Modern Dancer:

Throughout 2018, we will highlight one state per week....its arts council, dance education organization, festivals, artist residencies, dance companies, and more. We will link to previous posts of artists based in the state, masters programs, and city guides.

This ambitious feature hopes to highlight the abundance of arts in the United States as well as to challenge us to look at areas of the country seeking more arts and arts education.

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NewDANCEfest - Festival in July 2018 for new and emerging artists in Rochester